Governance by Evaluation? The role of knowledge in governing decarbonisation transformations

The literature on socio-technical-political transformations (or transitions) has blossomed in the last decade. A key, recurring theme is the extent to which particular actors have the 'agency' (Brown, 2013) to steer the direction and speed of transformations. Central Government departments are often assumed to enjoy particular agency. A new stream of work is beginning to appear that analyses how governments select, calibrate and implement different 'mixes' of policy instruments (regulation, market based instruments) (van den Bergh 2011: 6) to steer transformations (Meadowcroft 2009; Kivimaa and Kern 2016).

However, if one opens up the 'black box' (Smith et al. 2010: 446) of public policy even more widely, then other actors come into view - such as those that shape the knowledge environment in which particular policies are designed. In the UK decarbonisation transformation landscape, one body which performs this role is the Committee on Climate Change (CCC). It provides regular assessments of the direction, pace and gaps in decarbonisation, advising government. In effect, it is engaged in a softer, less direct from of governance by evaluation.

The existing literature has mostly examined the creation of the CCC as opposed to its operation. Now - ten years after its establishment - is an opportune moment to examine fully the multiple roles it plays. This studentship will examine:

the design of the CCC - what roles was it given to discharge and why?
the knowledge production activities of the CCC - what topics does it select to analyse, why and how?
the roles it performs in the governance of decarbonisation transformation - who draws on the knowledge it generates, how and with what effect?

By drawing on a range of different theoretical literatures concerned with governance (Smith et al. 2005), transitions, knowledge production and utilisation (Jordan and Russel 2014), the studentship will address a significant gap in our understanding of transformations and add value to (but not displace resources from) the work of the C3T. It will run during the first phase of the Centre (2019-2024).

PLEASE NOTE: this studentship is linked to Research Grant ES/S012257/1, held at the University of Cardiff. The contact there is the Centre Manager: Rose Terpstra (terpstrar@cardiff.ac.uk).